It’s been awhile since I traveled to a galaxy far, far away. That being said, it’s surprising how quickly I fell back into the storylines and these versions of iconic characters. Originally published in 1995, this story, the first installment in The Corellian Trilogy is set 18 years after the Battle of Yavin.

Allen has a pretty solid handle on the characters, and the way they have changed since the fall of the Empire. Leia, following Mon Mothma’s growing illness has assumed the role of Head of State for the New Republic. She and Han Solo attempt to balance their work lives and their family lives, raising three precocious children who have Force powers.

With an approaching diplomatic trip to Han’s home planet of Corellia, Solo finds himself approached by a New Republic Intelligence agent, Kalenda. She asks him to ask suspiciously to draw attention away from a spy team being sent in. And that is something Solo can do easily.

But there’s trouble on Corellia, since the fall of the Empire, it’s become increasingly xenophobic and the government is struggling. Can the New Republic help?

The Solo family soon discover that the Human League is stirring up all manner of trouble. And honestly, reading it in today’s political environment feels very familiar.

Meanwhile, Lando is off looking for a rich wife (seriously that’s his storyline in this narrative) and he’s bringing Luke Skywalker along as a chaperon. A journey will that bring them close to Corellia just as trouble is erupting.

Fan favourite Mare Jade shows up, a little late, but she does help the story reach it’s To Be Continued climax.

And while the story moves along pretty quick, I’m sorry to say that anytime the character Kalenda has time to herself in the narrative it feels like the story completely stalls.

I know she’s there to help the story move along, but everytime I hit a section with just her, I struggled to get through it.

And while reading this book doesn’t give the same Timothy Zahn Thrawn Trilogy Star Wars feel to it (you can hear the music in your head when you read those books), it’s still a fun adventure, and sets up some interesting ideas for what is to come in the next two books.

It’s fun, and there’s some familiar-feeling banter. And as silly as it is, some of the Lando/Luke stuff is pretty enjoyable.

There’s narrative threads that are left dangling by the end of the book, but with two more stories to come, you didn’t think they were going to wrap everything up in one tale did you?

It’s not my favorite Star Wars tale, and it’s all contradicted now thanks to new canon, but it’s a fun adventure. We’ll find out what happens with Han and Leia, and their kids, Jacen, Jaina, and Anakin, not to mention the rest of the game when I dig into Assault at Selonia.

But first the saga continues with Children of the Jedi. Until then, May the Force be with you.